Summary: CEC'99 Amor & Anumba Page 1 of 12
A SURVEY AND ANALYSIS OF INTEGRATED
PROJECT DATABASES
Dr R. Amor1
and Dr C. J. Anumba2
ABSTRACT
This paper is concerned with the development of an integrated project database for the construction industry. It
briefly reviews the background to the growing interest in an integrated project database (IPDB) for construction
projects, and examines the fundamental concept of an integrated project database by discussing the various
definitions that have evolved, as well as the various approaches to its development. A detailed survey and
analysis of recent UK projects that have sought to develop integrated project databases is also presented. The
analysis is based on several criteria such as the application area, development environment, modelling
approaches used, reusability, hardware and software requirements, and the use of standards. The paper
concludes with an identification of gaps in current research and strategic advice on the future development of
integrated project databases.
Keywords ­ integrated project database, survey, analysis, concurrent engineering
1. INTRODUCTION
The construction industry has largely depended on collaborative working between a number
of professional teams brought together, often in an ad hoc manner, for the translation of its
clients' requirements into physical constructed facilities. Whilst this has entrenched the